LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) - Kobe Bryant scored eight points in what is expected to be his final National Basketball Association game in Oakland but it was not enough to prevent the Golden State Warriors from beating the Los Angeles Lakers 116-98 for their 37th consecutive home win on Thursday.
Point guard Stephen Curry bombed in 24 of his game-high 26 points on three-pointers, helping the Warriors (37-3) record a seventh straight home victory over the hapless Lakers (9-32).
The Oakland fans treated Bryant like one of their own, however, rather than the one that got away in the 1996 draft, during a lengthy pre-game introduction.
The Warriors selected North Carolina State centre Todd Fuller 11th overall 20 years ago, two spots before Charlotte took Bryant and dealt him to the Lakers.
He responded with a poor shooting night, though, going just 4-for-15, but he did find time for six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot in 27 minutes.
Bryant's eight points were far less than the 27.1 average he accumulated in his first 32 visits to the San Francisco Bay Area.
He managed only two points in the third quarter while the Warriors were extending a three-point half-time advantage to 86-72 going into the fourth.
Curry had a hoop and two assists in a 13-2, quarter-closing run as the Warriors won for the third time this season in games that immediately followed a loss.
Golden State fell 112-110 at Denver on Wednesday.
Curry finished 9-for-18 from the field overall and 8-for-16 on three-pointers. Reserves Shaun Livingston (17) and Leandro Barbosa (15) combined for 32 points for the Warriors, who improved to 19-0 at home this season.
Power forward Draymond Green, who was rested for Wednesday's loss, had team highs in rebounds (nine), assists (five) and steals (three) to go with seven points. Golden State made half their shots in the game and 13 of their 33 three-point attempts.
Los Angeles shot 44.4 per cent from the floor, 4-for-24 from outside the arc.
Point guard Jordan Clarkson had 22 points and back-court mate Lou Williams added 21 for the Lakers, who were coming off a home win over New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
The Lakers also got 14 points apiece off the bench from point guard D'Angelo Russell and power forward Julius Randle.
Bryant was much more effective on the defensive end than on offence, limiting Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson to 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting.
